Joyce Vada Saffell Butler

Joyce Vada Saffell was born October 27, 1936 from the union of Frank Saffell Sr. and Wilbur Katherine Henderson. Joyce attended Mrs. Hills private Kindergarten, McMillan Elementary, 1st and 2nd grade, Green School, 3rd through 8th grade, and Austin High School 9th - 12th grade, Knoxville, Tennessee. After graduation, Joyce attended Nursing school in Atlanta Georgia, at Grady Memorial Hospital where she earned her Registered Nursing License. She moved to Los Angeles, California in 1960. She met and married Robert Jack Butler after a two-month courtship. To this Union, they had 5 children: Robert Keaton, Catherine Rochelle, Susan Carole, Virginia Karen, and Richard Armbrister. Joyce worked at Universal Studios as the RN on set while movies were being made. Also employed at County General Memorial Hospital ER; Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, and finally Head Registered Nurse in the Oral Surgery Department at the University of Southern California (USC).

Joyce received Christ as her Lord and Personal Savior and attended Crenshaw Christian Center, Los Angeles California, Bishop Fredrick K. C. Price; and Avalon Zion Four Square, Los Angeles, California, Pastor Frank Holly Sr. Joyce always had a caring nature. She was known as Ms. Butler, Mama Butler, Aunt Joyce and Mamaw by all who knew her, especially on Harvard Blvd. If you needed food, a place to stay, Joyce always had open arms. The neighborhood kids would call our house the Butler Hotel, The Kool Aid House. There was no time that if you needed a helping hand, an ear to listen to, or just a simple hug, mamaw was there. Mamaw has been through so much loss and heartbreak yet she always kept a smile on her face and her trust in the Lord.

Joyce passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by her family. She is preceded in death by her parents; Husband, Robert Jack Butler, Children, Robert Keaton Butler, Susan Carole Butler, Virginia Karen Butler, and Richard Armbrister Butler. Survived by Daughter, Catherine Rochelle Townsend, Louisville, Kentucky, Granddaughters, Domonique Townsend, Mykelle Butler-Prince, and Kinidie Butler-McDonald, Louisville, Kentucky; Grandson, Richard Butler Jr. Los Angeles, California; Great Grandson, Semir Morrison, Angel daughter, Maya Johnson, Inglewood, California, Family, Devoted Cousin, Willastine Arms and family, Los Angeles, California, James Earls,(Julie),Honolulu, Hawaii, Earls, Patrick, Cox, and Jefferson, Knoxville, Tennessee, Verneisha Powell and family, Louisville, Kentucky Harvard Blvd, Los Angeles, California, and a Host of nieces, nephews, family and friends.